Meter box



A. J. ALLEN Oct. 25, 1938.

METER BOX 2 Sheets$heet l Filed June 18, 1937 A. J. ALLEN Oct. 25, 1938.

2 sheets-sheet 7" AToRNl-Y so that they Patented Oct. 25, 1938 METER BOX bert J. Allen, Brooklyn, politan Device Corpor New York N. Y., assignor to Metroation, a co rporation of Application June 18, 1937, Serial No. 148,921

10 Claims.

The invention herein disclosed relates to a meter cabinet and in particular to a meter cab- :net that provides ing of electrical bottom-connected type. Certain electrical watt hour meters for protectie n against the pilierenergy with meters of the meters, and particularly measuring the consumption of electrical energy, known as the bottomconnected type included a terminal chamber that extends from the meter and carries the meter terminals to which the service or `unmetered and the load or metered Wires are connected. It is desirable that these meter connections be sealed ized persons, and it is an ob are inaccessible except to authorject cf this invention to provide a terminal box or cabinet that is especially suitabl nections to e for enclosing and sealing the conmeters of the bottom-connected type and that places all live unmetered parts under the protection of the meter cover seal.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a terminal or meter base, side and end cover. The base is one end Wall and mounting base for t extended may be he meter.

box that includes a walls and a pivotally mounted substantially beyond adapted to form a The side walls are also extended beyond the end wall and form, with the cover, an open-end compartment adapted to receive the extending terminal chamber of a meter mounted on the bas ;pivotally secured to one sid for limited longitudinal movement.

e. The cover, while e of the box, is free In the closed position it forms a cover 4for the box and a Wall for the open-end compartment on the end of the box, and the edge of the cover abuts against the cover of the meter.

Within the box there is a latch and a cooperating latch member is secured to the inner surfac e of the cover.

The latch member is positioned to engage the latch within vthe box when the cover is cl only be released by moving lnally to disconnect the latch and lat Such movement of the box only when the cover of the meter is Such a meter box, embodying the osed. The latch can the cover longitudich member. cover can be effected removed.

invention, is

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the meter box;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the irregular line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on thc irregular line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation meter boxes for use with a Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sec of a pair of modified service cable trough; tion of the same;

Fig. 6 is line 6-6 of Fig. 3

Fig. 7 is The met a fragmentary section taken on the and a similar fragmentary section.

er box illustrated in the drawings includes a base I, side walls 2 and 3 and end Walls 4 and 5, the end wall 4 having a rectangular opening therethrough. The side Walls 2 and 3 have strai have intur these flang walls 2 and 3.

will later a To the b which in` eect forms box. The

ght edges. The end walls 4 and 5 ned flanges 4a and 5a. The ends of es are secured to the edges of the side The purpose of this construction ppear.

ase I, there is secured an extension 6 a part of the base I of the extension 6 is illustrated as of the same width as the base and extends a substantial distance beyond the end wall 4. This extension, which may be of any dimensions suitable for the purpose, forms a base to which a bottom-connected type meter 'l may be secured. Only part of the meter is shown in the drawings,

but the particular m cylindrical tially rectangular t which the On the end of the box, there are plates which are and 3.

form an partition I end Wall 4, and forms terminal c eter illustrated consists of a base I and cover 'la and a substanerminal chamber 'lb through connecting wires to the meter pass. 8 and 9 oiset extensions of the side Walls 2 These plates with the base extension 6, open-end chamber on the end wall 4. A

0, extending between the plates 8 and 9 and along the edge of the opening through the divides this open-ended compartment a lower compartment into which the hamber lb of a meter base extends when the meter is mounted upon the base extension 6. In the meter bracket and partition I I.

and partiti the compartment the extension 'lb of abuts against the edge of a U-shaped The U-shaped bracket on II is secured to the base I, and the legs thereof extend through slots in the end Wall 4 an bracket thus divides the opening Wall into t service leads of the meter vand load leads d the partition I0. This U-shaped through the end wo rectangular openings, one for the the other for the of the meter. The U-shaped bracket may be placed in any one of three positions to accommodate various types of bottom-connected meters.

Two of these are provided by using one or the other of its two slots IIa and IIb engaged with a stud llc, having an enlarged head, fixed to the bas I by mean not extend Fig. l the U tion with t e I or it may be secured to the base s of a screw and in this position does through or above the end wall 4. In -shaped bracket is shown in the posihe end of the slot IIa of lesser length Y place. Vo

engaging the stud IIc and in one of the three aforementioned positions; in Fig. 6 it is shown reversed with the end of the larger Slot IIb` engaging the stud; and in Fig. 7 it is shown with the stud at the entrance to the slot libl and the bracket held in place by a screw i ld. Y

Within the box I, there is a partition I2 that extends between the end walls i andV 5. The partition I2 divides the box intoY a service compartment l2a and a load compartment I2b. The partition l2 is substantially in alignment with one leg of the U-shaped bracket II and thus provides an opening to the service compartment iiia that is separated from the opening to the load compartment i222. Within the compartment I2b there is mounted a connection block I3. This connection block has a conductor strip I4 that is made in two sections lilla and iiib disconnected in the center. An extension Mia of the block extends to the edge of the partition l2, the block being secured to the base l or partition I2 in any suitable manner. In the front of the connection block there is an opening Mb through which access may be had to nut Ia on a bolt I5. The bolt is secured to the block between the sections Ita and llb or the conductor I4. One wire, on the load side of the meter, is connected to one end of the block at Ida. by a terminal screw I4c and the load vwire is connected to the other end of the conducting strip Id through a terminal screw ldd. When the nut i5a is screwed down on bolt I5 it bridges the gap between the sections ita, and Ich thus forming an electrical connection acrossrthe gap. This arrangement is provided so that service may be disconnected by unscrewng the nut I5 out oi contact with the strip Ilia and Hlb and service can then be reestablished merely by screwing the nut down in An extension I3c on the side of the block i3 passes through an opening in the partition i2 into the service compartment and forms a connection block in the service compartment.

A cover I6 is provided for the box, consisting oi a sheet metal plate having the side edges bent laterally to form flanges that extend over the edges of the side walls of the box when the cover is in the closed position. The cover is pivotally secured to the side wall 2 of the box. The hinge construction for pivotally securing the cover to the box may consist of any of the well. known forms of pivotal, sliding hinges. As illustrated it includes two pair of brackets Ila, Hb, and l8a, ib, secured to the side wall 2. The brackets lla and i'ib are adjacent one end of the side wall and the brackets I8a and |817 are adjacent the other end of the side wall. A rod I9 extends through these brackets and is secured therein in spaced relation to the side wall 2. A bracket 20 secured to the flange Ia of the cover surrounds the rod I9 between the brackets I'Ia and I'Ib and similar bracket 2|, secured to the flange VIIa of the cover surrounds the rod I9 between the `brackets Isa and Ib. The brackets Ila and I'Ib are spaced apart longitudinally of the side Wall a distance substantially greater than the Width of the bracket 20. Likewise the brackets I8a and lh are spaced apart longitudinally of the side wall a distance substantially greater than the width of the bracket 2i. The brackets 2Q and 2| are slidable on the rod I9 so that the cover I6 may be shifted longitudinally of the meter box. The amount of longitudinal movement of the cover is of course limited by brackets I'Ia, |117, and lila., I8b. The cover I6, as is clearly illusltrated in the drawings, is substantially longer than the distance between the end walls of the box and in the closed position extends above the end wall l to form a closure for the compartment formed abovel the end wall.

On the inside of the box and secured to the side wall 3, there is a spring latch member 22. This spring latch member has a hook-shaped section 22a at the free end thereof. The latch consists of a V-shaped piece of strip metal one leg oi which is welded to the side 3 and the other leg of which is free and forms a spring latch. On "the cover of the box there is secured a latch member 23 that is positioned to cooperate with the latch 22. The latch member 23 has a hookshaped section 23a which is the reverse of the hook-shaped section 22a. When the cover is in the closed position as shown in full lines in Fig. l, that is, when the brackets 2li and 2l are respectively abutting against the brackets I'Ib and i817, the latch member 23 is engaged by the spring latch 22. The edges 4a and 5a of the end walls li and 5 are turned in and welded at their ends to the side walls so as to prevent access to the latch. The flanges on the cover completely prevent access from the sides.

Since both of these latches are within the box, there is no way in which the latch can be disengaged except by shifting thecover longitudinally of the box. When the cover is shifted longitudinally of the box, to a position shown in broken lines in Fig. l, the latch member 23 is disengaged from the latch 22 as will be seen by the vdotted position of the latch member shown in Fig. l and indicated by 23. It will be noted however that when a meter with its cover on is on the base extension 6, it is impossible to move the cover I6 longitudinally of the box and so position the cover as to release the latch and latch member. The cover therefore can only be opened by removing the cover of the meter 'l which is -of course sealed in place. The connections from the supply through the meter to the load are thus not only separated within the box but they are completely protected as long as the meter cover remains sealed in place on the meter.

The cover i6 is provided with an opening Iba.v

which, in the closed and latched position of the cover is in alignment with the recess I3b in the block i3. This opening in the cover I6 is normally closed by a supplementary cover 24 that is pivotally secured to the cover l5 at 25. The cover 26 is provided with a sealing post 26 which, in the closed position of the cover, abuts against a corresponding post 22h fastened to the box and extending through a slot in the cover. Openings through the cover sealing post 26 and the box sealing post 22h are aligned n the closed position of the cover and are provided for a seal or padlock which seals the covers 2Q and I6 in the closed position. If it be desired to disconnect the service, it is only necessary to open the cover 2li and manipulate the nut I5a as heretofore described. When the service is disconnected the connections to the meter and the supply wires remain sealed as the opening of the cover 24 gives access only to conductors on the load side of the meter. Y'

In Figs. 4 and 5, the invention is illustrated in conjunction with a plurality of meters anda service-cable trough. The meters 2l and 23 represent two diferent types of meters, Vboth however of the bottom-connected type. These meters are mounted respectively in conjunction with meter boxes 29 and 3D embodying this invention.

These meter boxes are identical in construction with the exception that the connection block within the meter box 30 is 'for a three phase meter and the connection block within the meter box 29 is for a single phase meter. For this reason but one of these meter boxes, the box 29 will be described in detail.

Below the meter boxes 29 and 30 there is mounted a service-cable trough 3|. This servicecable trough is a rectangular sheet metal box having side and end walls. The upper side wall 3Ia is in contact with the lower end wall of the meter box and openings are provided in the usual Way for the passage of service wires through the upper side wall of the service-cable trough and the lower end wall of the meter box. The servicecable trough is provided with a cover 32 that is pivotally secured at 33 to the edge of the lower side wall `3Ib. y

The meter box 29 is in all respects identical with the meter box illustrated in Figs. l to 3 with the exception that the cover 34 extends, as at 34a, below the lower end of the meter box in the closed and locked position of the cover. The extension 34a overlaps the cover 32 of the servicecable trough in the closed position of the cover 32. It will thus be seen that the cover 32 of the service-cable trough is locked in the closed position when the meter box cover 29 is closed and latched.

From the foregoing description of the meter box illustrated in the drawings, it will be seen that all live unmetered parts are protected by the meter cover seal. Likewise, the construction permits the installation of a meter with the cover seal in place. 'I'his is an important advantage as it assures the utility company that the meter is in substantially the same condition as when it left the laboratory.

The fact that the longitudinal movement of the cover I6, in the direction of the meter, is limited, serves to prevent injury to the meter during unlocking of the cover I6.

It is obvious that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art in the details of the embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the drawings and described in detail above within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a box for a meter of the bottom-connected type, having a removable cover and a terminal chamber, the combination comprising a box having a base, side and end walls and forming an enclosure for the terminal chamber of the meter, a cover for the box movable longitudinally of the box between a position in which it clears the cover of the meter and a position in which it extends into the space occupied by the cover of the meter, and means for maintaining the cover closed on the box only when positioned to clear the cover of the meter.

2. In a box for enclosing the connections to an electric meter having a removable cover, the combination comprising a box having a base, side and end walls, a cover for the box pivotally secured to a side wall of the box and movable longitudinally of the box, means within the box for latching the cover closed on the box only when positioned at one end of its longitudinal movement with respect to the box, and means for associating the box with a meter whereby longitudinal movement of the cover of the box from the position in which the cover is secured by the 3 latching means is restrained when the cover of the meter is in place.

3. In a box for a meter of the bottom-connected type having a removable cover and a terminal chamber, the combination comprising a box having a base, side and end walls and forming an enclosure for the terminal chamber of the meter, a cover pivotally secured to the box and movable longitudinally of the box between a position in which it clears the cover of the meter and a position in which it extends 'into the space occupied by the cover of the meter, and latching means wholly within the box for latching the cover closed on the box only when positioned to clear the cover of the meter.

4. In a box for a meter of the bottom-connected type having a removable cover and a terminal chamber, the combination comprising a sheet metal box having a base, 'side and end walls, the base and side walls extending beyond one end wall and forming an open-end compartment to receive the extending terminal chamber of a meter, a cover for the box of sufficient length to substantially cover the open-end compartment,

means for securing the 'cover to the box for piv-r otal and longitudinal movement of the cover relative to the box, the cover being movable longitudinally from a position in which it clears the cover of the meter to a position in which it extends into the space occupied by the cover meter, a latch within the box secured to one side thereof, and a cooperating latch member secured to the cover and positioned to engage the latch in the longitudinal position of the cover in which the cover clears the cover of the meter and to be` out of latch engaging position in the other longitudinal position of the cover, whereby the cover is latched in one position and released in the other position.

5. In a box for a meter of the bottom-connected? type having a removable cover and a terminal chamber, the combination comprising a sheet metal box having a base, side and end walls, a portion of said base extending beyond one end wall and adapted to have a meter secured thereto, extensions on the side walls forming an open-end compartment on the end of the box to receive the terminal chamber of the meter, a cover for the box of sufficient length to substantially cover the open-end compartment, a hinge for securing the cover on the box for longitudinal and pivotal movement with respect to the box, the cover being movable longitudinally from a position in which it clears the cover of the meter to a position in which it extends into the space occupied by the cover of the meter, a spring latch within the box, and a cooperating latch member on the cover positioned to engage the latch in the longitudinal position of the cover in which the cover clears the cover of the meter and to be out of latch engaging position in the other longitudinal position of the cover.

6. In a box for a meter of the bottom-connected type having a removable cover and an extending terminal chamber, the combination comprising a sheet metal box having a base, side and end walls, the base and side walls extending beyond one end wall and forming an open-end compartment to receive the extending terminal chamber of the meter, a cover for the box of suicient length to substantially cover the open-end compartment, a hinge for securing the cover to the box comprising a rod secured to the side of the box and spaced therefrom, a. bracket secured to the cover and rotatably and slidably mounted on the rod and movable from a position in which the cover of the box clears the cover of the meter to afposition in which the cover of the box extends into the space occupied by the cover of the meter, aspring latch within the box, anda cooperating latch member secured to the cover and positioned to engage the latch in the longitudinal position of the cover in'which it clears the cover of the meter and to be out of latch-engaging position in the other longitudinal position'of the cover, the box cover extending to the cover of the meter in the latching position thereof.

'7. In a box for a meter of the bottom-connected type having a removable cover and an extending terminal chamber, the combination comprising a sheet metal box having a base, side and end walls, an extension on the base extending beyond leo one end Wall and adapted to have a meter secured thereto, extensions on the side walls forming an open-end compartment on the end of the box of lesser Width than the box to receive the terminal block of the meter, a partition in Vthe open-end compartment extending between the side walls, a partition inthe box extending between the end Walls, a cover for the box of suficient length Vto substantially cover the open-end compartment, a hinge for securing the cover on the box for longitudinal and pivotal movement with respect to the box, the cover being movable longitudinally from a position in which it clears the cover of the meter to a position in which it extends into the space occupied by the cover of the meter, a spring latch within the box, and a cooperating latch member on the cover positioned to engage the latch in the Vlongitudinal position of the cover in which it clears the cover of the meter and to be out of latchengaging position in the opposite longitudinal Yposition of the cover.

8. In a box for a meter of the bottom-connected type having a removable cover and an extending terminal chamber, the combination comprising a sheet metal box having a base, side and end wall'aran extension on the base extend- Ving beyond one end wall and adapted to have a meter secured thereto,4 extensions on the side walls forming an open-end compartment on the end of the box of lesser width than the box to receive the terminal block of the meter, a partition in the open-end compartment extending between the side Walls, a partition in the box extending between the end walls, a cover for the box, a hinge for securing the cover to the box comprising a rod secured to the side of the box and spaced therefrom, a bracket secured to the cover and rotatably and` slidably mounted on the rod, a spring latch within the box, and a cooperating latch member secured to the cover and positioned to engage the latch Vin one longitudinal position of the cover and to be out of latchengaging position in another longitudinal position of the cover, the cover extending to the case of the meter in the latching position thereof.

9. In a box construction for a meter, a servicecable trough, a cover therefor hingedly'secured thereto, a meter terminal box having a base, side and end walls, a cover therefor movable longitndinally of the box between a position overlapping the cover of the service-cable trough and a position out of the path of movement of the cover of the service-cable trough, and means for securing the cover of the box closed on the box in the overlapping position thereof.

l0. In a construction for a meter of the bottom-connected type having aV removable cover and a terminal chamber, the combination comprising a box having a base, side and end walls and forming at one end an enclosure for the terminal chamber of the meter, a service-cable trough at the other end'of the box, a'cover for the service-cable trough pivotally secured thereto, a cover for the box movable longitudinal- 1y oi the box between a position in which it clears the cover of the meter and a position in which it extends into the space occupied by theV cover of the meter, the cover of the box being of such length as to over-lap-the cover of the servicecable trough when in position to clear the cover of the meter, and means for maintaining the cover closed on the box only when positioned to clear the cover of the meter.

ALBERT J. ALLEN. 

